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**h22lude** · 02-25-2013, 03:40 PM

I don't want something cheap but I also don't want to spend top dollar just yet. I've read on here that the more you spend the better the kit usually is. What do you guys and girls recommend? I think I want to do a cab sav.

**Bensiff** · 02-25-2013, 03:51 PM

Here are my thoughts...don't think in terms of how much the kit cost, think in per/bottle cost. You can get a low grade kit for cheap and produce cheap wine that tastes like big bottle wines, if you like that type of wine, great. If you are like me, who tends to only like higher quality wine but hate to pay high quality prices you need to be looking at a higher end kit. I would go with one that has a grape skin pack. As far as cab sav, I currently have a Cellar Craft Red Mountain cab going that I just racked over and hit with more SO2 yesterday. It is around 3 months old and I will wait another 6-9 before bottling. At this point I can tell it has great potential but is really young and will need some serious time to shine. Everything I have read is that it is one of the, if not the best cab sav kit. I paid around 135 for it so that comes out to around $5 a bottle for a great wine.

WilliamSlayer · 02-25-2013, 05:33 PM

Grand Cru International Australian Cab Sav.

MeadMax · 02-25-2013, 10:03 PM

I also made the cellar craft red mountain cab. It is a year old and is very good. Needs a bit more time in the botyle though.
I also made the Cellar Craft Amarone.
This wine is awesome. It is currently 18 months in the bottle. Five years and it will compare to a 50.00+ bottle retail.
Cant go wrong with either.
A lot of people will say Luna Rosa Cab.
U have yet to make this so I can not say anything.
Good luck

**h22lude** · 02-26-2013, 01:13 AM

I don't mind paying for quality, I'm just a little hesitant to pay that much for my first kit. But on the other hand, I don't want to spend $80 on a kit for it to be not so great wine. The wine I usually drink is around $15 per bottle at a store. I don't mind some of the $5 bottles though.

Is there a kit a little less expensive than $140 that would turn out good...or is it better just to get the great kits?

***Yooper*** · 02-26-2013, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h22lude

I don't mind paying for quality, I'm just a little hesitant to pay that much for my first kit. But on the other hand, I don't want to spend $80 on a kit for it to be not so great wine. The wine I usually drink is around $15 per bottle at a store. I don't mind some of the $5 bottles though.

Is there a kit a little less expensive than $140 that would turn out good...or is it better just to get the great kits?

There are some mid-priced kits that are "good". Not excellent, or even great, but good. If you want a very good to excellent, they tend to run $150-175.

**h22lude** · 02-26-2013, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yooper

There are some mid-priced kits that are "good". Not excellent, or even great, but good. If you want a very good to excellent, they tend to run $150-175.

Where is a good place to shop for the higher quality kits? I usually use AHB, Midwest and Northern Brewer for my beer stuff. They seem to have a lot more of the lower priced wine kits.

Heavywalker · 02-26-2013, 01:34 AM

This is where I get all my kits, about the cheapest place I found and a good selection as well.

http://www.finevinewines.com/default.asp

***Yooper*** · 02-26-2013, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h22lude

Where is a good place to shop for the higher quality kits? I usually use AHB, Midwest and Northern Brewer for my beer stuff. They seem to have a lot more of the lower priced wine kits.

I've bought a couple from Northern Brewer, and one from AHB. This one is a good one: http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/cellar-craft-showcase-red-mountain-cabernet.html

**h22lude** · 02-26-2013, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yooper

I've bought a couple from Northern Brewer, and one from AHB. This one is a good one: http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/cellar-craft-showcase-red-mountain-cabernet.html

That's weird...I thought I just had that one open and it said out of stock lol it must have been another kit.

Looks like I'll be trying this kit out.

What equipment should I get to add to my brewing equipment? I know I need a 6 gallon carboy. Is a degasser needed or just helpful? They are pretty cheap so I might as well throw it in the order. I think for now I am going to bottle in 22oz beer bottles since I already have bottles, caps and a capper. If I find I like wine making I'll look into a corker. Plus it will give me more time to collect wine bottles.

I assume I can use all my other brewing equipment for both beer and wine as long as I wash it all good (which I do anyway lol).